Film-developing device



F. E. SMITH.

FILM DEVELOPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED sEP1.1B,19|9.

1,367,435. Patented Feb. 1,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Mmm JGZ/126i 5r/7.11272 F. E. SMITH. FILM DEVELOPING DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. I9I9.

1,367,435. Patented Feb. 1,1921.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

WIWI/8858 INI/ENTOH A TTUHNEYS lthe film, and again starting the same. ther, in prior devices, no means has been UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS EDWARD SMITH, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

FILM-DEVELOIING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Applicationnled September 18, 1919.` Serial No. 324,408.

Film-Developing Device, of which the foly lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates generall to a new and improved film developing evice, and more particularly to an improved means for carrying and conducting a film during the developing process.

In the `film developin machines and processes heretofore provi ed, difficulties have been encountered in getting the film started and properly positioned over the numerous rollers and pulleys, and in case the film breaks during the developing operation, the same diffiulties are encountered in spliing provided for' ositively conveying or carrying the film t rough the developing o pera- (gripped p tion in such a wa that the film is on each side, and 1s held at separate in spaced relation to the carrier.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a film carrying means which will overcome difficulties above noted in prior devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a film carrying means which positively grips the film throughout its travel through the developing operation.

A further object of this 'invention is to provide a film carrying means which will facilitate the starting of the film in the developing process, and which will eliminate the necessity for having to splice a film in case the same breaks during the developin operation. i

till a further object of this invention is to provide a film carrying means which will hold the film in spaced relation from the main carrier and other arts, thus preventing the emulsion side of e film from becom-r ing scratched or otherwise injured.

A further object of this invention is to provide a positive means of carrying the film so that the movement of the film is not dependent upon the friction of the film and movement thereof is not substantially effected by the contraction and expansionl of points 5 the film'.

Otherjobjects `and advantages will be apparent from the following the accompanying drawings.

Similar characters of reference desi like parts in the several views. In the rawings showing a practical embodiment of the invention:

Fi re 1 is a diagrammatic view showin certain of the developing receptacles, an one of the methods of arranging the endless carriers.

Fig. 2 is an elevation view partly broken description and ate l away, showing one ofthe receptacles, and a driving means, showing also a method of carrying the carrier through the tanks.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of the film tape arranged upon one of the carriers.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section, showing the film arranged between and spaced from the'carriers.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the carrier with the film tape therebetween passing over one of the gears.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the gears in elevation, and the carriers and the film in section passing thereover.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, showing a practical embodiment of the invention, suitable receptacles 1 and 2 are shown, which receptacles correspond to the first and last receptacles through which a' film tape 3 would pass in the developing operation. Of course it is understood that other tanks or receptacles may be provided, but for the present purpose, it is deemed sufficient to show the Erst and the last rece tacle. For example, the receptacle l, woul represent a developin tank, and a receptacle 2, would represent a rying chamber. a

In the form shown, the film tape 3 is carried in a film roll 4 which is .rotatably mounted on an arm 5 of the support 6. The

ion'

su stantial respects be similar to the support 6, the onl difference being that the film roll 4: carrie after it has been develo ed, instead of ing the tape to the deve oper.

thereby .receives the film tajpe 3 has been provided for positively guiding and carrying the tape through the tanks thek film tape being merely threaded an guided through the various receptacles on rollers. In such construction, great difficulty has been encountered in starting the' lm and in splicing the same if the film breaks during the developing operation. In

lorder to overcome these objections, a plurality of endless overlying carriers 14 and 15 are provided, and so arranged that the film tape 3 is guided or carried therebetween, the said carriers functioning as a support for the film tape 13 throughout substantially the length of travel of the film through the various receptacles used in the developing process. In other words, the film tape 3 is carried between two carriers 14 and 15, the main portion of the film being held in spaced relation to the carrier, by a means later to bedescribed, and the carriers, with the film therebetween are guided over rollers 16, 17 and 18 arranged in the tank 1, and

in a manner as shown in Fig. 2, wherein the carriers are guided sucessively over the adjacent rollers mounted on the upper and lower shafts 19 and 20.

Any suitable driving means may be provided such as a pulley 21 mounted on the shaft 19, and driven from a suitable source of power such as a motor 22 by a belt 23 or other suitable means. From a receptacle l,

A the carriers 14 and 15 with the film tape 3 therebetween, is conducted successively through the various tanks and receptacles provided in the developing process, and after passing fromvthe last receptacles 2, the carriers 14 and 15 are separated, and the film tape' 3 is wound upon a suitable receivin roll 4.

n the practical embodiment shown, the carriers 14 and 15 are shown in Figs. 3 to 6 as comprising link members, certain of the links 24 of the .carrier 15 having blocks 25 on the inner face thereof, and projections -or pins 26. The films now commercially .used are provided with openings 28 adjarious receptacles.

cent the edges ofthe film tape 3. As a means of positively engagingthe film tape 3, and

guiding the same throughout substantially j, lthe entire travel thereof, the film tape 3 is fed` between the overlying carriers 14 and 15 and projections 26 of the carrier 15 extend through the openings 28 adjacent either edge of the film tape 3, and thus positively grips the same and carries it throu h the va- Certain links 7 of the carrier 14, which have the recesses 26' therein, are also provided with a block 29 which extends inward from the link, and aline S5 with the blocks 25 carried by the links 24, so that when the film tape 3 is engaged, the main portion of the fihn is held in spaced relation to the links and other devices over which the carrier passes. The raised block portions 25 and 29 are mounted on the carriers 15 and 14 respectively, at spaced points thereof, the said points being arranged in any desired manner to suit the particular conditions. The spacing blocks 25 and 29 may be arran ed on various links of the carriers indepen ent of the projections 26. The projections 26, or other suitable means for engaging the film, are arranged preferably about every 5 feet, or such distance as is found to be necessary in order to effect a proper driving effort, it being understood that any desired arrangement may be used. One of the features to be kept in mind in thf spacing of the film engaging device, is that they should be located at such points as will permit a .certain contraction or expansion or' the film as it is carried through the developing operation. This is a feature wluch ma be varied to suit different conditions.

n carrier shown in the Figs. 3 to 5 the link carriers comprise an I shaped member 30 extending transversely of the carrier, and link portions 31 pivotally connected to the I shaped member 30 by a, pin 32 or other suitable means; There is shown in Fig. 6 an enlarged view of one of the rollers or toothed wheels 33 over'which the carriers are guided. The wheel 33 is provided with projecting tooth portions 34 which engage the carriers to drive the same.

In the practical operation, there will usually be sufiicient play or movement between the link connections, to compensate for the movement about the toothed wheel or sprocket 33. However, if the desired movement is not afforded, any suitable means may be provided to compensate for the difference, such as a slot 35 in certain of the links. It is understood that in the practical application of the carrier, it is not necessary that all wheels or rollers over which the carrier passes, be provided with teeth, but certain of the rollers may function 4as idlers or guides therefor, the toothed wheel 33 preferably being mounted in any suitable manner on a power shaft 36.

There is shown in Fig. 4, an enlarged view of a portion of the carrier, showing the laterally extending bar 37 of the I link` and the film tape 3, in section. Spacing blocks 29 and 25 are shown, with the pins or pro'ections 26, shown in Figs. 3 and .5, omitte In operation, preferably, a plurality of wheels 33` are spaced upon the shaft 36, so as to furnish a support for each side of the link carrier to drive the same. However, it

is understood that any suitable arrangement maly be provided.

n operation, the carrier is first set in motion, and the lm roll or cartridge 4 would be placed in position, and the end `of the film carried under they guide roller 10, after Awhich the film would be placed upon the through the various receptacles used in the developing operation, finally emerging from the last receptacle 2, passing between the rollers 39 and 40, after which the carriers would again separate, the end of the film tape 3 being guided on the receiving film roll or cartridge 4 which is actuated in any suitable manner to Vreceive the tape. The carriers may again come together to overlie each other at any suitable point 41 from which point the' carriers wouldV be guided about other rollers 42, 43 and 44. After 4passing over the later roller 44, the respective carriers'would separate, until the film targa 3 had again been received therebetween..

y providing a continuouspositive carrying means throughout the travel of the film tape, it is not necessary to first thread the film over the various rollers and Wheels in the many receptacles used in the developing operation. Further, if for any reason the film tape should break during the developing process, it is not necessary to stop the carrier, splice the-broken ends, or rethread the film over the various rollers.

Another advantage further to be noted, is that the emulsion side and the main portion of the film isheld in spaced relation to the carrier and other 'parts over which the carrier passes, thus minimizing the possibility of the becoming scratched or otherwlse injured.

While but one practical embodiment has ^been shown herein, it is to be'understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and vsco e of this invention. v

laims: l p 1. A film carrier comprising a pair of superimposed endless conveyers, means on the conveyers for positively engaging a film tape the conveyers normally maintaining the film tape in spaced relationship thereto. 2; A film carrier comprising a pair of superimposed endless conveyers, pins' on one of said conveyers adapted to engagethe edge of a film tape, the other of said conveyershaving recesses therein receiving the pms, and blocks carried by said conve ers normally holding the hn tape in space rejlationship to both of said conveyers.

3. A film carrier comprising a pair of superimposed endless conveyers, pins in one of said conveyers adapted to engage the edge of a film tape, the other of said conveyers having recesses therein receiving 'the pins, and means carried by each conve er normally holding the film tape in space relationship thereto.

4. Avdevice of the character stated comprising a driving means, an endless conveyer driven by said driving means, pins on said conveyer adapted to engage the perforated edges of a film tape, another endless conveyer having recesses therein adapted to accommodate said pins, and means carried by both of said conveyers for spacing the film tape from the conveyers.

5. In -a film developing apparatus, a pair of standards, a film dellvering reelon one of said standards, a film receiving reel on the other of said standards, a plurality of developing tanks located betwen said standards, means for removing a film tape from said first mentioned reel, passing it through said tank and delivering it into said'second mentioned reel, said means comprising an endless conveyer, pins carried by thel conveyer adapted to engage the perforated edge of a film tape, another endless conveyer having recesses therein adapted to accommodate or driving said pin said pins, and means carrymg conveyer.

FRANCIS EDWARD VSllll'IlfI.

located between them, and means carried by 

